By Marcus Uhe
A strong opening month of the new netball season has Pakenham sitting second on the Outer East Football Netball Premier Division A-Grade ladder.
Trailing only the high-flying and undefeated Narre Warren, a hat-trick of wins and the second-best defence in the competition makes the Lions one the competition’s early standouts.
Despite conceding 50 goals to Emerald on Saturday, strong scoring quarters in the second and fourth periods were enough to secure a 10-goal victory over last season’s Division One champions.
The Lions outscored Emerald 19-12 in the second term and 16-11 in the fourth to snuff-out any hopes of a late Bombers’ comeback.
Pakenham led by as many as 10 goals midway through the third quarter but Emerald closed with the final five goals of the term to half the lead heading into the final term.
The goals were spread evenly between Rose Laidlaw (20), Kelly Cousins (19) and Charlotte Hudolin (21), while South Australian Jordyn Adams is having a major impact in the centre of the court, filling the big shoes of Emma Jones.
Mackenzie Fox and Taylah Simondson were standouts for Emerald, with Kaylah Loulanting nailing 30 goals.
There’s no doubting that Narre Warren remains the team to beat, however, flexing their muscle with a dominant 63-32 win over ROC.
The Magpies doubled ROC’s score in the first quarter and held a whopping 22-goal lead at half time, having kept the home side to just five goals in the second term.
Even with the contest firmly in their grasp, the Magpies’ pressure didn’t let up in the second half, keeping ROC to just 20 goals.
Defensive pair Gabrielle Dwyer and Teneille Morrell were catalysts for keeping the scoring down at one end of the court, with Grace Ioelu (27 goals) and Piuti Laban (19) taking the scoring pressure off of Erin Bell.
Sidney Kneebone and Bella Heppell were important for ROC in the centre of the court.
Gembrook Cockatoo was taught a lesson by a rampant Mt Evelyn side seeking a return to its best form in a 75-33 result.
Two quarters saw the Rovers score 20 goals or more while the third netted 19.
Gembrook Cockatoo’s best in a quarter was 10, held in check by reigning Jodi Chandler medal winner Kaitlyn Black, and with Montana Wallis and Cate Garlick applying pressure through the middle of the court.
Hollie Burton and Jordan Reynolds played important roles for the Brookers, feeding Mariah Bell on her way to scoring 17 goals.
Berwick Springs, meanwhile, continues to battle in Premier Division, losing by 50 goals for a third consecutive week, this time to Upwey Tecoma at home.
It’s also the third consecutive week that the Titans have failed to reach the 20-goal mark, this time falling 63-13.
Upwey Tecoma led by 18 goals at the half and put in a relentless second half, scoring 37 goals to the Titans’ five.
61 goals to a returning Emmalia Blake made all the difference for Wandin in a seven-goal win over Woori Yallock, and Monbulk thrashed Olinda Ferny Creek by 43 goals.
The Hawks appear to be one of the competition’s big improvers alongside Pakenham, expected to challenge for a finals place.
The two go head-to-head at Toomuc Reserve in round five.
